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Lakers try to prepare without Steve Nash

As he walked down a Staples Center hallway, Lakers guard Steve Nash acknowledged he has no idea when he will fully heal a mild fracture in his left leg.

The Lakers have penciled him out for at least a week, meaning Nash will miss at least two more games at Utah (Wednesday) and against Golden State. But as far as whether Nash will become healthy enough for the Lakers to clear him once he’s reevaluated? Who knows.

“I hope so,” Nash said following the Lakers’ 108-79 victory Sunday over the Detroit Pistons. “You never know. We’ll see.”

Nash walked down the hallway without wearing a walking boot. He also didn’t break stride when he talked to two reporters while holding his girlfriend’s hand.

The Lakers have refused to say whether or not Nash could miss further time. But Lakers Coach Mike Brown highlighted the Lakers won’t expedite his return in any fashion.
“We want to make sure we’re not putting these guys in a position to injure themselves even more so they’re out for a longer period of time,” Brown said. “We want to make sure we’re patient with these guys and other guys can step up.”

Brown hopes those guys include Steve Blake and Darius Morris, both whom combined for 12 points and eight assists. Blake will start at point guard, while Morris has climbed ahead of Chris Duhon as the primary backup.

Blake looked particularly effective running sets out of the Princeton offense, finding his outside shot (2 of 3 from three-point range) and tying a career-high in steals (five). Blake joked he performed the latter by “taking notes from Ron Artest,” or Metta World Peace.

“I have to do what I did tonight,” Blake said. “I have to get us into the right sets, get guys the ball where they need it and play really good defense and be prepared every single night to fill in for his role as much as I can. He’s definitely going to be missed. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery.”

In the meantime, though, both players want to take advantage of the opportunity.

Morris showed some dazzling playmaking ability. He hit an open three-pointer. Morris connected with Dwight Howard on a few alley-oop lobs. Morris found an open World Peace for a cross-court pass. The Lakers forward returned the favor by connecting Morris for a fast-break layup. Yet, part of his two of five clip included an airballed jumper.

“I’m really just blessed to have this opportunity on a veteran team to be able to show a little bit however long it may be,” said Morris, who will become a free agent after this season. “I want to develop as a player and show people what I can do.”

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